Strictly Come Dancing 2013: As her time on Strictly is nearly over, Natalie Gumede contemplates returning to Coronation Street!

Strictly Come Dancing star Natalie Gumede is, like her fellow Strictly finalists Abbey Clancy, Patrick Robinson and Susanna Reid, having to make some decisions about what’s next, given that the show’s final airs next weekend…

And though the door was left open for Natalie to return to ITV soap Coronation Street, where she played the role of the now imprisoned husband-beater Kirsty Soames, Natalie has revealed that though a return to the soap isn’t out of the question, she’d like to try her hand at other TV and stage roles first.

She said, “I won’t ever say never to Corrie. I had a great time there but I’d like to try other things first…

“One of the joys of acting is you never know what the next challenge will be and things often surprise you.

“I’d love to go back. I’ve missed it and Strictly reminded me of that because it has been a pleasure to act on the dance floor.

“I’ve been lucky because I’ve been able to use that and hide my mistakes under the jazz hands.”

To the Mirror, ahead of last night’s semi-final, Natalie added, “I don’t know any other life but Strictly right now.

“I’m just enjoying my last few dances on the show and remembering what a joy it is to be here.”

Prior to joining the cast of Corrie, Natalie played the role of China in sitcom Ideal, and in 2008, she landed a part in Clubbed, a movie drama about a 1980s factory worker who took a job as a club doorman, and in January 2010, she went on to featured in another sitcom The Persuasionists, which airs on BBC2.

But of course, it was her role as Kirsty on Coronation Street that saw her become a household name, and for portraying the disturbed and violent former police officer, Natalie won a British Soap Award for Best Soap Newcomer as well as a TV Choice Awards for Most Popular Newcomer.

Lynn is an editor and writer here at Unreality TV and is a trained psychotherapist and the author of two books. She's addicted to soaps, period drama and reality TV shows such as X Factor, Big Brother, BGT and I'm A Celeb.